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` UNITED STATES 4PATENT onnion.

JAMES P. MCLEAN, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

SKATE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 25,751, dated October 11, 1859.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. MCLEAN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain novel and useful Improvements in the Construction of Skates for the use of Ladies and Others, which improvements I term railroad-skates; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to t-he letters of reference marked thereon, which letters correspond with and form a part of this specification.

To enable the public to understand the nature of my said invention and those who are skilled in the art of manufacture to construct and operate the same I will describe it as follows:

Figure (1,) is a perspective view of my skate showing the side or ankle springs (A, A,) having projections (2, and 3,) which catch hold of the sides or edges of the sole of the shoe, when the tops of the springs (A, A,) are brought and secured together by means of the strap, or lacings (8,) or any other suitable fastenings; these side springs (A, A,) are also provided at their tops, with ankle bone pads, or cushions (B, B,) which are securely fastened to the ankle springs, and heel band by means of a button (N,) or its equivalent. Letter (m,) is a cork sole-(/t,) is a heel spring that answers the double purpose of holding the heel band or hind quarters, or part of the shoe in. its place, at the same time forcing the foot into the vamp or toe strap (u.)

Fig. (2,) is a perspective bot-tom view of the skate, showing the manner of securing the runner, or iron, (R,) to the foot plate or stock, (V,) by means of inverted railroad chairs (y, g/,) which are firmly fastened to the stock or plate (V.) These inverted chairs may be made of wrought or cast metal, but should be formed so that the back chair (next the heel) would receive the smaller or tapering end of the rail (K, K,) which forms a part of the top of the runner or iron (R,) as shown at Figs. 3, and 7. The rail aforesaid may extend the entire length of the top of the runner or iron or may be in sections, as shown in the drawings. The object of employing a tapering or dovetail rail, the larger end being next the toe is to enable the .iron (R,) to keep perfectly tight without the application of any other fastening excepting a small screw through the heel as shown at (X,) F ig. l.

By the above arrangement I do away with the use of spikes, or screws, in the heel of the skate or any other device calculated to destroy the shoe, cramp or otherwise injure the foot. The front or toe chair (y,) if necessary is provided with two loops to receive toe straps, in case they should be preferred to the lacing or vamp (u,) Fig. l. These loops are made a part of the chair as shown in the drawings at Fig. 6.

Fig. 3, is a perspective side view showing the individual parts of my invention more clearly.

Fig. 4, represents a perspective view of a working skate cut transversely in front of the ankle Springs (A, A,) to show more clearly the comfortable arrangement of the ankle pads (B, B,) and heel pad, ,and spring (la) as secured and arranged to the hind quarters of a shoe or moccasin skate.

Figs. 5, and 6, are the chairs.

Fig. 7, is an exhibit of the top of the runner or skate iron having my longitudinal rail (K, K,) secured to its (the skate irons) Lipper' edge; whether the runner is made of cast or wrought iron, the rail (K, K,) must form or constitute the upper edge or a part thereof.

The superiority of my invention over every other skate now in use is rstthat it is perfectly easy upon the foot, and any one having sufficient knowledge to put on a shoe can secure the skate to the foot ready for skating without having to screw, or drive, the spikes or screws, into the heel or the unpleasant sensation caused by strapping the skate too tight and by the introduction of the ankle or Side springs (A, A,) and the ankle bone pads (B, B,) together with the back heel spring (la) having a pad at the top thereof, a lady can skate in her slippers with perfect safety and comfort, when provided with a cork sole as at (m,) Figs. l and Q-also by means of my railroad attachment, I am enabled to bring the foot nearer to the ice thereby counteracting in a measure the lateral rocking of the skate and thus rendering it more easy for the learner, and less tiresome for those skilled in the healthful art of skating; and to make it more easy for t-he skater' I fashion my runner so that the lower or running edge of the iron is very broad and the sides thereof are ooncave, analogous to a razor blade so that as the runner or iron wears off at the bottom the edge thereof is still retained thus avoiding the necessity of frequent sharpening as is the case with all other skates in market.

Therefore what I claim as my invention and what I wish to secure by Letters Patent of the'United States is- 1. The arrangement and use of the side or 5A, Az) with pads (B, B, l

ankle springs and instep pro]eet1ons (2 and 3,) adjustable or otherwise, in combination with the y heel spring (la) having a pad at its top end, and with the cork sole (71%,) in the form of a JAMES P. MCLEAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN OAKEY, IIIRAM P. HUNT. 

